Former top Hong Kong official and property tycoon appeal landmark graft conviction

A former senior Hong Kong official and a billionaire property tycoon arrived in court on Tuesday to appeal against a corruption charge more than two years after they were jailed in one of the city’s most high profile corruption cases.

Rafael Hui, who headed the Hong Kong government civil service from 2005 to 2007, was sentenced in December 2014 to seven-and-a-half years imprisonment for several charges including misconduct in public office.

The former co-chairman of Hong Kong-listed developer Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd (0016.HK), Thomas Kwok, was jailed for five years. Two others, including former Sun Hung Kai executive Thomas Chan and businessman Francis Kwan, were also jailed.

Following an initial unsuccessful appeal against their convictions, they were finally granted leave last July to contest one specific charge; that of “conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office”.

“I feel my mind is at peace and I sleep well,” said Kwok as he arrived at court, dressed in a suit and pink striped tie with his bowl-cut hair dyed black, and thronged by reporters.